Dental appliance for cleansing the gingival one third areas of the teeth as well as the sulcular and the embrasure regions thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a dental appliance for cleansing the gingival one third areas of the teeth, the sulcular regions and the embrasure regions. The dental appliance of the present invention is in the form of a tooth brush having a brush head portion a handle portion and a neck portion. A plurality of tufts of bristles are connected to the brush head portion, preferably in a single row. The tufts form an undulating brushing surface having a plurality of alternating convex and concave regions. The convex regions are configured to coincide with portions of the free gingival margin adjacent to the facial surfaces of selected teeth and the concave regions are configured to coincide with the interproximal margins between the teeth selected in configuring the convex regions. As a result of the coincidence, the aforementioned areas of the teeth and gingivae can be efficiently cleaned. In order to permit easy manipulation of the appliance within the oral cavity, the brush head portion is cylindrical. The handle portion is angled back from the brushing surface and the mean height of the bristles increases towards the handle portion to permit the brush head portion to be held in a level orientation anywhere in the mouth for efficient brushing. All tufts of bristles are rounded to prevent irritation of the gingivae. Adjacent tufts of bristles touch one another at the fomed brushing surface to maximize the area of the brushing surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A dental appliance for cleansing the gingival one third areas of the teeth of a user as well as the sulcular and the embrasure regions thereof, said dental appliance comprising: a brush head portion of elongate configuration having: a proximal end,   a distal end, and   a length as measured from the said distal end to the said proximal end;     a plurality of tufts of bristles disposed along the said length of said brush head portion in a single phase, with each of said tufts of bristles being connected at one end to said brush head portion, said tufts of bristles being sized so as to define an undulating brushing surface formed from the other of the ends of said tufts of bristles, said brushing surface including: a plurality of convex regions, each of which is configured to coincide with a portion of the free gingival margin adjacent to the facial surface of a selected, adult tooth, said convex regions of said tufts of bristles including at least one located at the said distal end of said brush head portion which is configured to coincide with a portion of the said free gingival margin adjacent to the facial surfaces of an average, adult molar,   a plurality of concave regions located adjacent to and alternating with the said convex regions of said tufts of bristles, said concave regions of said tufts of bristles being configured to coincide with the average of the interproximal margins that are located between the said selected teeth used in configuring the said convex regions of said tufts of bristles situated on either side thereof, said concave regions located adjacent to the said one convex region at the said distal end of said brush head portion having the configuration of the average interproximal margin that is located between adult molar teeth, and   a mean height, as measured in a direction normal to said brush heat portion, that increases from the said distal end of said brush head portion to the said proximal end of said brush head portion;     a handle portion of elongate configuration connected to said brush head portion at the said proximal end thereof; and   a neck portion connecting said handle portion to said brush head portion.   
     
     
       2. The dental appliance of claim 1 wherein said handle portion is angled away from said bristles in the said plane thereof so as to form an angle of between about 25 degrees to about 35 degrees with the said brush head portion. 
     
     
       3. The dental appliance of claim 2 wherein said molar comprises a first molar. 
     
     
       4. The dental appliance of claim 3 wherein, at the said proximal end of said handle portion, said convex regions of said tufts of bristles coincides with a portion of the said free gingival margin adjacent to the facial surfaces of an average adult, upper incisor tooth. 
     
     
       5. The dental appliance of claim 4 wherein said brushing surface includes a set of three convex regions of said tufts of bristles and a set of two concave regions of said tufts of bristles, wherein the central of said convex regions coincides with a portion of the free gingival margin adjacent to the facial surface of an average adult, lower incisor tooth and wherein said concave regions of said tufts of bristles located between said convex regions of said tufts of bristles having the respective configuration of the portions of the free gingival margin adjacent to the facial surfaces of said lower incisor tooth and said upper incisor tooth comprises the configuration of the average of the interproximal margins located between upper and lower incisor teeth. 
     
     
       6. The dental appliance of claim 5 wherein said tufts of bristles are arranged in a single row along the said length of said brush head portion. 
     
     
       7. The dental appliance of claim 6 wherein each of said tufts of bristles spread radially from the said one end thereof connected to said brush head portion and wherein the said other of said ends of each of said tufts of bristles touch the said adjacent tufts of bristles at their said other ends thereof. 
     
     
       8. The dental appliance of claim 7 wherein each bristle in each of said tufts of bristles and each of said tufts of bristles are rounded at the said other of the ends thereof. 
     
     
       9. The dental appliance of claim 8 wherein said handle portion forms an angle of about 35 degrees with said brush head portion. 
     
     
       10. The dental appliance of claim 9 wherein said brush head portion has a circular crossection. 
     
     
       11. The dental appliance of claim 10 wherein said tufts of bristles at the said proximal end of said brush head portion has a maximum height of about 12 mm. and said tufts of bristles at the said distal end of said brush head portion has a maximum height of about 9 mm.